Simon is presenting his interactive ‘Nocturnal Pianola’ lighting installation and concept.

Robe’s relationship with Simon goes back to when he was a Lighting Design / Programming student at Rose Bruford College in Kent. When ‘Nocturnal Pianola’ was selected as one of the works to be exhibited at the festival, he approached Robe to see if they were interested in getting involved in Vivid.

Naturally, they jumped at the chance!

“Robe has never been about pushing the product – their emphasis is definitely on relationships,” comments Simon. “As a lighting graduate, I know the importance of students to have opportunities provided by those already working in the industry, and this is something that Robe obviously clearly values”.

Robe SRO’s CEO Josef Valchar and Ashley Lewis, Key Account Manager for Film, Theatre & TV from Robe UK in particular have been instrumental in making the VIVID bursary happen and in taking an interest generally in Simon’s work.

Selecting a student to work with him in Australia for three weeks was a challenging task, and Simon was inundated with applicants form virtually every performing arts college in the UK!

“The standard of applicants was incredibly high,” he explains, which made it even harder! However, after examining all the CVs in detail and interviewing as many candidates as possible in person, he chose Jaz Hewitt, a first year Lighting Design  student at the Central School of Speech & Drama in London.

“I wanted someone bright and talented who was not a known LD, didn’t have any specific design credits and who’d not previously worked before with a major lighting company. Basically someone who was open to learning and self-development”.

Jaz is delighted to have the opportunity and thrilled about the actual installation work and the way its interactivity can be developed. “I’m very excited about the placement – it’s something artistic and different that stands out. It will be a very memorable experience”.

Simon has every confidence that Jaz will be an excellent colleague, “I hope her experience of the event is enjoyable as well as beneficial!” he concludes.

As ‘Nocturnal Pianola’ is a non-profit production undertaken by SBLD for cost, without Robe’s help, taking an assistant LD and offering an aspiring new young designer this fantastic experience would have been out of the question.

The installation will run from May 24th to June 10th on Sydney Harbour’s Circular Quay.